Fall River school bus carrying 49 students struck by pickup truck

Eleven students and the driver of a pickup truck were transported to local hospitals after the pickup crashed into the rear of a school bus that had left the Silvia Elementary School about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at Highland Avenue and Wilson Road, according to police and others at the scene.

Eleven students and the driver of a pickup truck were transported to local hospitals after the pickup crashed into the rear of a school bus that had left the Silvia Elementary School. The incident happened around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at Highland Avenue and Wilson Road, according to police and others at the scene.

He reported the driver of the pickup was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

He said the students on the bus were transported for minor injuries and precautionary care.

Witnesses at the scene said several ambulances were transporting the students, who are in kindergarten to grade 5 at the elementary school, which is located about a half-mile from the crash scene.

Parents were at the scene picking up their children, said a witnesses who did not want to be named.

The white older-model pickup truck involved in the crash had its hood folded into the windshield and was pushed against the passenger rear quarter of the bus that had its lower fender sheared from behind the rear wheels.

Tetrault’s report said the accident is being investigated by uniform division officers with assistance of the Accident Reconstruction Unit, Major Crimes Unit and crime scene detectives.

“The accident remains under investigation and more details will be released when appropriate,” Tetreault said.

According to Allen Fisher, owner of the Fisher Bus Co. in Somerset, there were 49 students aboard the bus.

“We’re just here to take the bus back,” Fisher said. “We haven’t been told anything.”

After the accident, the bus was parked parallel to the curb near the corner of Wilson Road, and the pickup was halfway onto the sidewalk behind it.

A nearby Wilson Road resident said his grown son was inside their house when he heard a bang and ran out.

He said the man in the pickup truck appeared unconscious initially, but managed to get out of his vehicle with what looked like an injured leg. He did not want to give his name or his son’s name.